“I’m not a businessman
I’m a business, man
Let me handle my business, damn”<p>That has to be one of the best lines of all-time from Jay-Z. Great post. Thanks for sharing.
I find #2 and #3 to be contradictory. Being a "business, man" is what Jay-Z is all about. He's made himself into a brand. Kids buy HP computers simply because he endorses them. That brand and iconic status is quite separate from his "businessman" status as founder of Roc-a-fella, CEO of Def Jam, owner of the 40/40 club, New Jersey Nets, etc. He definitely stays out of the limelight while running his businesses. That would be the being in the "food and beverage" mode. As Jay-Z the rapper, however, he has to take on a gigantic public image. You can't really follow #2 while abiding by #3.<p>I also wouldn't say 2001 was when Jay-Z was a "young star." He was already incredibly mainstream in the late 90's.<p>Of course, I understand that this post was more for entertainment value :)
[Offtopic]<p>In reference to point 5 - That line made me respect Jay-Z as an artist. He isn't in my top 5, but that was honest of him to admit. In that song, he says something along the lines of "Lyrically, I'd rather be Talib Kweli". Now, Talib Kweli <i>is</i> in my top 5. He writes on some deeper topics then most mainstream artists, and as a result, is rarely heard of. Kweli, in a song he wrote after Moment of Clarity came out, would say:<p>> If lyrics sold then truth be told, I'll probably be just as rich and famous as jay-z<p>Anyways... A lot of rappers are ex-drug dealers. As a result, many of them are business-savy. I feel Jay-Z is the best example of this.